Trump's new Iran policy calls for an economic crackdown following the withdrawal from the Iran deal, a buildup of anti-Iran military alliances with the US's regional partners, and a media campaign to heat up already simmering civil unrest in the country.

But, while the circumspect approach mirrors Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign that helped force North Korea and China to change their tunes, this time he's opened with an offer for a summit.

"I'm ready to meet anytime they want to," Trump said of Iran during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday. "No preconditions. They want to meet? I'll meet."

Iran, theoretically, has a lot to gain from improved relations with the US. Since the US withdrawal from the Iran deal, Iran's currency has taken a nosedive, soaring up to around 120,000 rials to a dollar. In August and November Iran faces two new waves of sanctions that will shut off their access to US banking and oil exports.

Though the US sanctions post-deal will be unilateral and not as strong as the pre-deal UN-imposed sanctions, fear angering the US, the world's largest economy, will likely scare off Europeans who are otherwise committed to the deal.

In short, Trump withdrew from the Iran deal, likely imposed tremendous cost and stress on Tehran's economy, and Iran has responded by staying in the deal and trying to portray itself as a good actor worthy of the world's support against US hegemony. For the moment, Trump is having his cake and eating it too.

A 'kiss the ring' moment from Trump to Iran would be deeply humiliating

An anti-U.S. mural is seen on a wall of a government building in central Tehran October 12, 2011. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

Iran's parliament, for the first time ever, has called up Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to grill him on the foreboding economic downturn. Iran watchers consider Rouhani a moderate who spent considerable political capital in negotiating with the US and the West to cast the Iran deal.

But now, Iran finds itself having signed away its nuclear ambitions for almost none of the economic rewards promised by the west.

Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament who is seen as part of Iran's moderate camp, said that to negotiate with Trump now "would be a humiliation."

Other figures in Iran's government dismissed the idea as non starter, saying the nuclear deal represented the talks they supported, and having that ripped up made future conversations untenable.

Instead, Iran hopes to improve relations with Europe, who it hopes will brave US sanctions to continue to buy its oil. But as many of Europe's businesses are exposed to the US's massive financial reach, it's hard to imagine Iran doesn't take a haircut on its potential future earnings.

Meanwhile, Trump has, in short order, laid down a remarkable track record with summits, especially with US adversaries. "I'll meet with anybody. I believe in meetings," Trump said on Monday.

A Trump summit has its appeal

If Trump helped North Korea's image, imagine what he could do for Iran. AP

Trump became the first US leader to meet with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, the world's worst human rights violator. Kim agreed to only vague, symbolic or non-binding moves to help the US while Trump heaped praise on the leader and defended his brutal regime.

Iran, similarly, could hold a summit with Trump, but its political culture forbids such a thing. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has cast itself as standing up to the US with fierce opposition. Its senior government figures chant "death to America." Iran's navy holds the dubious operational goal of destroying the US Navy. Domestically, Rouhani already stuck his neck out for the US with the Iran deal.

For Iranian leaders to smile and shake Trump's hand would symbolize a deep capitulation and recognition that the US holds tremendous power over Tehran, and that their values of opposing US hegemony stand subordinate to their will to survive economically, for which they'll need a benevolent Trump.